Planning for Retirement

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SEIU 775 Secure Retirement Plan (SRP) is a first of its kind retirement plan for caregivers. Your SRP account will help you save more money for retirement! And all the money in your account comes from your employer, not your paycheck.

Your SRP account is a great foundation for your retirement but it’s important to have more than one source of income to make sure you can retire comfortably. Think of it as a 3-legged stool – you will need 3 sources of retirement income, to stay balanced.

Here are the most common sources of retirement income that make up the 3-legged stool:

  • Your Secure Retirement Plan (SRP) is a benefit you get through SEIU 775 Benefits Group. Your employer adds money to your SRP account for every hour you work as a caregiver. Nothing comes out of your paycheck!
  • Social Security is another common source of retirement money, but not everyone gets it. You can see if you are paying into Social Security by looking at your pay stub. If there is money entered under “Social Security Employee Tax” then you should have Social Security. Some Parent Providers may not qualify.
  • Personal savings like an IRA is the last leg of the 3-legged stool. Opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a great way that you can save for your future. Some IRAs also give you tax benefits. You can learn more about opening an IRA on Washington’s Retirement Marketplace.

See more about the basics of IRAs, Social Security and other personal savings below.

Learn More About Your Retirement Income Sources

Almost every American worker can get Social Security benefits in their retirement by making payroll tax contributions. If you qualify, you get monthly Social Security payments starting as early as age 62. Not everyone gets Social Security, like some Parent Providers, but you may still qualify for a spousal benefit if you are married.

Here are 3 simple tips to help you understand Social Security and plan for your retirement:

  1. See if you qualify. You can see if you are paying into Social Security by looking at your pay stub. If there is money entered under “Social Security Employee Tax” then you should have Social Security.* Learn more about the Social Security Retirement benefit.
  2. Use this easy-to-use Social Security calculator. Enter your birth date and your income to see how much you could get from Social Security and how old you will be when you can start getting your full monthly payment.
  3. If you are ready to retire, create a my Social Security account to apply.

*If you do not qualify for Social Security, consider opening an IRA through Washington’s Retirement Marketplace. It’s easy and affordable!

Opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an easy way to save more money for your retirement – on top of what you get through your SEIU 775 Secure Retirement Plan (SRP). You can open an IRA yourself with as little as $5 through Washington’s Retirement Marketplace, a trusted retirement partner.

The money you add to your IRA will earn interest and add up over time.

Why open an IRA?

  • It’s just $5! It’s easy and affordable to open an IRA.
  • Your money grows over time. Even if you can only put a small amount of money in your IRA each month, over time it can add a lot of money to your retirement.
  • Have many sources of retirement income. The SRP is only one source of income you have when you retire. Saving your own money through an IRA can help you retire more comfortably.

Learn more about opening an IRA through Washington’s Retirement Marketplace, a trusted resource.

Opening and contributing to a personal savings account is another important part of retiring. Saving as little as $5 each month can make a big difference by the time you are ready to retire.

It can be hard to plan for emergencies and unexpected costs like veterinary bills or car problems, let alone retiring. But, if you take some steps to plan, you can avoid having those expenses become a heavy burden.

Here are 4 tips to help you get started on your personal savings and saving for emergencies:

  • Create a budget. Start by comparing how much money you earn each month versus how much you spend in a typical month. Then you can decide what you can spend less on, and how much money to put into a savings account.
  • Set up automatic savings with your bank. You can decide how much and how often to save. Even saving as little as $5 each month can add up over time.
  • Limit credit card use. Credit cards can be helpful in emergencies, but it can be easy to overspend and you may end up paying more in interest. When you have a savings account set up for emergencies instead, it could help you save money overall.
  • Compare monthly expenses. Check if you qualify for a lower car insurance rate or try switching to a less expensive phone plan. The money you save could be put directly into your savings account!

The Saver’s Tax Credit reduces your income tax bill by giving you credits for money you contribute to a retirement savings account. If you qualify, you could get up to $1,000 in tax refund credits.

The credit is worth up to $1,000 or $2,000, depending on income and marital status.

You must make contributions to a retirement account like an individual retirement account (IRA), be over the age of 18, and meet income requirements.

Learn More about Your SRP Account at Retirement

See how much money you might have by the time you retire using the Retirement Calculator on Retirement: My Plan. Log in to estimate your balance today!

Helpful Outside Resources

For more resources for topics like tax help, retirement planning, retirement calculators and more, see Helpful Outside Resources.

Time Is Your Best Savings Friend. Watch How Your Money Grows!

Secure Retirement Employers

Employers that contribute to the retirement fund:

  • • State of Washington (Individual Providers)
  • • Addus HomeCare
  • • Amicable HealthCare
  • • Catholic Community Services
  • • CDWA
  • • Chesterfield Services
  • • Concerned Citizens
  • • First Choice In-Home Care
  • • Full Life Care
  • • Korean Women’s Association
  • • Millennia
  • • All Ways Caring